Nicholas van Aelstyn is an environmental lawyer who advises clients on both traditional environmental matters as well as matters related to climate change. He is leader of the ESG and Sustainability team.
Traditional Environmental Counsel
For more than 25 years, Nico has counseled clients on traditional environmental compliance, including the regulation of soils, air and water, and products. Related to this work, he has done environmental due diligence for a wide variety of real estate and corporate transactions, with special expertise in the renewable energy development projects.
Nico also handles litigation related to environmental issues, including cost recovery actions, regulatory actions, writ proceedings to challenge regulations, and representation of potentially responsible parties (PRPs) and PRP groups at Superfund sites. He has particular expertise with contaminated sediment sites.
Climate Change Counsel
Nico’s climate change practice encompasses California’s Cap-and-Trade Program and other aspects of AB 32, as well as other climate programs under the California Air Resources Board (CARB) such as the low carbon fuel standard (LCFS), programs regulating high global warming potential hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), carbon capture utilization and sequestration (CCUS) and related state, federal and international programs.
His climate finance practice includes handling complex U.S. and international offset transactions in both compliance markets and voluntary carbon markets (VCM), market advice, ESG counseling and addressing clients’ needs with respect to climate disclosure requirements and related climate finance risks.
Nico has represented clients in every lawsuit filed to date challenging California’s Cap-and-Trade Program. His broad litigation experience also includes commercial, real estate, intellectual property and appellate cases. He has handled matters in state and federal courts across the country, including the U.S. Supreme Court and various administrative fora.
In his free time, Nico is an avid cyclist. He competed in the 1,200-kilometer Paris-Brest-Paris races in 2003 and 2023.